Houston Nutt Urges Support of Race for Cure, Komen Foundation

Controversy over the use of pink jerseys in Razorback football practice has created a misunderstanding that the university and, in particular, Football Coach Houston Nutt want to clarify.

" We are in complete support of the Race for the Cure and the Susan G. Komen Foundation," Nutt said. "My wife, Diana, and I served as chairs of this event in 2003. We urge everyone to get out and support the race and the foundation for the great work it does. "

After reports that some football players were required to wear pink jerseys in practice, the university received a variety of responses from fans and observers both criticizing and supporting the practice. But none of those communications was made officially on behalf of either the foundation or the Race for the Cure event. Nutt ordered the practice discontinued out of respect for the significance the color pink has taken on in reference to the fight against breast cancer, but not at the specific request of any organization.

In a statement (http://www.hogwired.com/tablestory.asp?Home_ID=1&Story_ID=6767) Nutt said he understood that both the foundation and the race organizers had received calls from people threatening not to support these events.

" Several of our players have worked as volunteers in the race," Nutt said. "I have tremendous respect for what the foundation does."